As some may know I now sometimes build small servers for people so thought I would show and tell a couple of builds I am currently now doing and give a view of the new Intel S1200KP C206 chipset mITX motherboard when I get it from the local distributors here.
I have just almost finished a build, without taking any pics
but will see what I can do about that tonight.
Build 1;
Antec ISK300-150 case
Intel i3-2100 processor
Intel H61DLB3 mITX motherboard
4GB DDR3 1333MHz ram
Seagate 250GB 5.4k 2.5" hard drive
Intel CT PCIe x1 network adaptor
Use: Mini ESXi server on a tight budget and in a very tight time frame.
Status: All build apart from the additional network card which is in transit.
Questions: Why the CT network card ? - Unfortunately the Intel on-board network 82579V chipset is not supported by VMWare in ESXi even though it is designed for virtulized environments (hence the V at the end of the chipset model code). Unfortunately it seems no-one over here has any CT cards so I had to order two from Overclockers (via parental proxy
) which should be flying their way to me now. Paid for next day before 12 and they arrived next day before 10 so great service.
Build 2;
After build 1 was finalised I came across a new board that has just been released by Intel and so will be using this in the second build.
Antec ISK100-90 case
Intel i3-2100 processor
Intel S1200KP server mITX motherboard
4GB DDR3 1333MHz ram
Seagate 250GB 5.4k 2.5" hard drive
Use: Same as build one, to be used as a pair for redundancy.
Status: All ready to build apart from the motherboard which is being imported by local distributor.
Questions: What about networking and ESXi ? - The S1200KP has dual lan using 82574L and 82579LM chipsets. The 82574L is the same as used in the Intel CT nic bought for the first build and is on the ESXi HCL.
So what is so great about the new S1200KP motherboard...
Downside, it only has USB2 (4 rear + 4 header).
If someone were to add a cheap SAS HBA it would give a total of 12 SATA ports and could be a very nice home server platform. It needs to be paired carefully with the E3 Xeons as not all have integrated video so the PCie slot would need to be used for a video card in some cases. The E3 Xeons are priced around the same level as the i5 2500K, at least where I am.
Note the i3, E3 and G620 will all support ECC memory as well
.
For a cheap NAS, a S1200KP board, G620 processor, 4GB EEC ram and some hard drives with UNRaid or ZFS. The only other mITX Xeon board I have come across is the Wade 8011 which I still am trying to get a price for.
Will take a few pics tonight and add them up if I get the chance
.
RB
I have just almost finished a build, without taking any pics
but will see what I can do about that tonight.Build 1;
Antec ISK300-150 case
Intel i3-2100 processor
Intel H61DLB3 mITX motherboard
4GB DDR3 1333MHz ram
Seagate 250GB 5.4k 2.5" hard drive
Intel CT PCIe x1 network adaptor
Use: Mini ESXi server on a tight budget and in a very tight time frame.
Status: All build apart from the additional network card which is in transit.
Questions: Why the CT network card ? - Unfortunately the Intel on-board network 82579V chipset is not supported by VMWare in ESXi even though it is designed for virtulized environments (hence the V at the end of the chipset model code). Unfortunately it seems no-one over here has any CT cards so I had to order two from Overclockers (via parental proxy
) which should be flying their way to me now. Paid for next day before 12 and they arrived next day before 10 so great service.Build 2;
After build 1 was finalised I came across a new board that has just been released by Intel and so will be using this in the second build.
Antec ISK100-90 case
Intel i3-2100 processor
Intel S1200KP server mITX motherboard
4GB DDR3 1333MHz ram
Seagate 250GB 5.4k 2.5" hard drive
Use: Same as build one, to be used as a pair for redundancy.
Status: All ready to build apart from the motherboard which is being imported by local distributor.
Questions: What about networking and ESXi ? - The S1200KP has dual lan using 82574L and 82579LM chipsets. The 82574L is the same as used in the Intel CT nic bought for the first build and is on the ESXi HCL.
So what is so great about the new S1200KP motherboard...
- LGA1155 using the C206 server chipset supporting i3, E3 Xeon and pentium 1155 processors (i.e. G620).
- Supports ECC and non ECC in standard DDR3 240pim ram upto 16GB over 2 slots.
- 2xSATA II and 2xSATA III ports
- Full PCIe 2.0 x16 slot
- Dual Intel Gb lan
- mITX form factor
- USD cost around $160
Downside, it only has USB2 (4 rear + 4 header).
If someone were to add a cheap SAS HBA it would give a total of 12 SATA ports and could be a very nice home server platform. It needs to be paired carefully with the E3 Xeons as not all have integrated video so the PCie slot would need to be used for a video card in some cases. The E3 Xeons are priced around the same level as the i5 2500K, at least where I am.
Note the i3, E3 and G620 will all support ECC memory as well
.For a cheap NAS, a S1200KP board, G620 processor, 4GB EEC ram and some hard drives with UNRaid or ZFS. The only other mITX Xeon board I have come across is the Wade 8011 which I still am trying to get a price for.
Will take a few pics tonight and add them up if I get the chance
.RB
.